Mover: Plastic-free down to the very last thread

You only realize just how ubiquitous plastic is when you try to give it up entirely. And “plastic-free” doesn’t just mean plastic-free materials—the devil is in the details.

At Mover, it took years of research and countless negotiations with manufacturers, producers, and suppliers to develop the first completely plastic-free sportswear collection—down to the smallest detail. The first step was selecting natural, high-performance materials: Ventile®, high-density ripstop cotton outer layers, 100% merino and alpaca wool (Swisswool®), and 100% wool corduroy. But the real challenges lay elsewhere: in the sewing threads, zipper tapes, and label materials.

Plastic-free down to the very last thread—against all odds.

The biggest challenge? Finding anyone who sews with cotton thread at all. Most manufacturers flatly refused—polyester was the only option. We quickly realized that it wasn’t just a matter of preference: Their sewing machines simply weren’t equipped for cotton thread anymore. Decades of reliance on synthetic materials had meant that a simple switch to the needles required for cotton was simply no longer an option. We finally convinced our manufacturers: Our thread is 100% cotton, multi-ply. We use long-staple Egyptian cotton, mercerized for high tensile strength.

The next hurdle: plastic-free labels. Industrial printing involves the use of plastic derivatives; embroidered labels would have been an alternative—but embroidery thread, too, is almost without exception made of polyamide. Finally, we found a small Italian company that is keeping the art of cotton embroidery alive.

We often joke that the embroidered label is the only proof of authenticity you need to recognize a Mover garment. If you look closely, you’ll notice a small loose black thread. That’s because cotton—unlike polyamide—cannot be heat-sealed.

Then there was the problem with the zipper tape: 100% cotton tape simply doesn’t exist as an industry standard. Metal teeth, yes—but every tape that suppliers offered was made of either polyester or poly-cotton. Even tapes labeled as “cotton” contained synthetic components upon closer inspection.

We couldn't accept that. After a year of negotiations, our zipper supplier agreed to produce a custom 100% cotton tape. They didn't just say yes to our request—they came to the conclusion on their own that what we're doing is right. Sometimes, stubbornness and a good cause are all it takes.

Threads, zipper tapes, and labels were our hard-fought battles—but not the only ones. Every little detail was reimagined. Even the way we designed clothing without elastic had to be completely rethought. Rubber cords became cotton cords. Plastic cord stoppers gave way to aluminum ones. Velcro fasteners were replaced with aluminum pull tabs. Snap fasteners were made of metal. And for certain models, we source horn buttons from Portuguese cattle—a material with a centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship.

Our prints are also completely plastic-free: We use only water-based inks—with no synthetic binders and no plastic derivatives. Every substitution, no matter how small, was a conscious decision.

Enthusiasm proved to be our most valuable asset. Convincing suppliers took time, patience, and perseverance—but we were able to win them over by showing them the vision of what a plastic-free future can offer. Together, we’ve built a supply chain that believes change is possible: plastic-free, down to the smallest detail.

And that's how Mover's first 100% plastic-free collection came to be.